Planning Your Company Event
One of the key touchpoints in your customer experience journey
Your company events can strengthen your brand or erode it - really! And in case you are thinking this doesn't apply to you, company events and personal parties have so much in common. Don't think so? Keep reading . . . .
Even if you have the budget to hire the event coordinators, experience-makers, or wedding planners who promise to deliver the biggest WOW, I believe that if you don't take a step back and look at the WHY before the WOW, you will not have an event as special and memorable as you hope. And, it will be a waste of time, money, and resources. (I'm going to hear from the event planners here, but I believe this down to my core.)
Look at the WHY before the WOW -
We have all been trained to love the big reveal (thank you, HGTV) - the over-the-top multi-sensory light and sound show, the tablescapes that cost $150 per guest (before the food and wine), the big-name guest entertainers - these are the big WOWs and of course we love them. I'm not saying stop that.
What I am saying is if you start with strategy in place first - focus on the moments, the touchpoints, and create what I talk about often - the Whispered Wows - your event will mean more, be talked about more, and create more emotion. I promise.
“How can my event strengthen and build my brand?”
There are so many different ways your event (from an anniversary celebration, announcing a new partnership, a presentation, or even a simple in-office meeting, etc.), can strengthen your brand, but right now, here are three things that every event should do:
Better define your brand - if people don't know what makes you YOU - what makes you different - then you are just one in a sea of oh so many. When an event is done the right way, you show your attention to detail, your creativity, your aesthetic, your brand personality - you literally bring your brand to life.
Strengthen and build your brand (and your business) with a lot of customers/prospective customers at once (great ROI). Think of it as just a big bang for your buck!
Help your customers talk about you. You are going to make them feel something - give them a story to tell. Remember, Facts Tell - Emotion Sells.
Imagine your guests thinking things like,
“I could have never imagined this,”
“This is so perfect - but I never would have thought of it,”
“She really gets me,”
“They are so creative,"
“Great insight into what working with them will be like,”
“I can't wait to tell my mom's group about this - they are going to LOVE it!”
“This attention to detail is everything.”
I recently polled my newsletter subscribers on what new event-focused freebie they would like. The winner was, “The Six Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your Event.”
By this point one of those (sometimes irritating) little pop-up boxes may have popped up, asking if you want it. It’s good, and comes with the Event Kit Emergency Packing Guide - and it’s free! You can grab it below.
